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Edited Date/Time
5/10/2014 1:53pm
Another thread on here reminded me about this.
I've been meaning to check into this for my '84 RM250 below, and I have an '84 RM125 tank available. Can anyone tell me what needs to be done to put the smaller 125 tank on the 250?
I'm sure I could figure it out if I really start digging into it, but if anyone has already done it that always helps.
I've been meaning to check into this for my '84 RM250 below, and I have an '84 RM125 tank available. Can anyone tell me what needs to be done to put the smaller 125 tank on the 250?
I'm sure I could figure it out if I really start digging into it, but if anyone has already done it that always helps.
Other than swapping tank and shrouds I'm thinking the only thing that would keep you from making the switch would be if the pipe came up on the opposite side and hit the gas valve.
The 84 was a cool looking bike. It looked just like the Works bikes Suzuki was racing at that time
The reason I say this is, changing the 250 tank/seat is not just a bolt-in-swap conversion. You need new radiators, new rad mounting points, hoses, pipe mounting points, etc. etc. At least that's as far as I was able to determine before I dropped the project.
You are correct that Barney's WORKS bikes in '82/'83 ran the much smaller 125-style setup with the 250 motor.
When he was having issues with the '84 works RA250 (the one with infamous airbox and tank in switched locations), he gave up and simply switched to running a stock RM250. From that point on, all the pictures I saw of him at SX were on a stock RM250. IIRC I saw him at the '84 Astrodrome SX and he was already running a stock bike.
It seems to me that if The Bomber (The Man at Suzuki at the time, the first $1 million dollar rider in motocross), had to run a stock '84 RM250 with a big tank, it seems reasonable that you can't just swap out the seat/tank. I believe those are the least of it. I think you need to get a complete '84/'85 RM125 core and then mod the frame to fit the motor. If you could do that, especially if you had a good '82 RM250 motor, you'd have a great bike.
Apologies if this is a negative post. My research when I looked into this could be all wrong, and I'd loved to be proven mistaken.
The Shop
"Barkhard" says, then I will pass. I don't want to chop up my bike for the mod. No negativity taken Barkhard, we are just looking for a better way and the more input the better!
Also will have to remove radatior bracket on the back bone of frame.
Here's a photo of how it turned out , tried to build it as an RH83 Works Replica
PS. Your '83 RA250 replica, is the BOMB! But so was your '81 RA250, your works bikes, etc :-) I'm still looking for an '84 RM500 swingarm for my '82 like you used on your '81 RA replica. You sir-- are a stone Suzuki master! -- James
Arrgh! I've had a watch on eBay for months for that darn swingarm. Well, it certainly sounds like it wouldn't have worked anyway.
What are you thoughts on getting a 250 motor into the '84-'85 125 frame? I'd love to put the '82 250 motor into that combo, this is what Marc and I were talking about with that low-hour '85 125 and the '82 250 I ended up swapping him. He later sold both bikes on FullFloater, I believe, so you might remember them.
I still think that next to the '03 SoBe bike, the '83 RA250 is the trickest bike Suzuki ever made... and would love to build a replica one day. And did you make the pipe for your swap yourself? (Full-on thred highjack in progress!)
Thanks for all the info. That bike looks awesome! I think though I will just leave mine as is now that I have the real story and not just the "you should swap, it's easy!" comments from others in the past.
Is the rear fender on official factory part or did you modify the stocker in some way?
Pit Row
Believe that's the Stilmotor (very close) replica of the factory '80-'3 rear fenders. I've been looking for one for some time myself. Ed has contacts and the builds I've seen of his have used this rear fender.
Any chance of you doing you next build here? Also, whenever you sell parts will that only be on FullFloater.com?
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